Falling more in love with Jesus

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Our Staff Summit went really well last week.. I had a dream planning committee!
Everyone in my team was self-motivated, talented and effective & efficient… it really made my job rather ‘redundant’.. =) Thanks guys for making it a fun time for me! It was indeed a joy & privilege to co-labour with each of u!

Had an interesting conversation with a friend one of the nites…
It was her response to what I shared about my experiences at Lausanne that set me thinking!
She said ‘Hearing this kind of stories..and your story… really made me fall more in love with Jesus...’

We went on to talk about how sometimes we measure our walk with Jesus by how much we’ve grown… when it might be more helpful to see it from the point of view how much we’re more in love with Jesus.

We live in a world that is focussed on growth! And there’s really nothing wrong with with growth.. in fact, it’s essential that we grow, develop, learn etc. But too often, our perspective of growth is ‘we got to get this right’, ‘we need to grow out of this rut’, ‘we need to be able to do this better’ etc.etc. And perhaps as a result we get ourselves frustrated.. when we realize that we still make the same mistakes, fall into the same ‘pits’ in our life, commit the same sins over and over again… =( So we may conclude that we’ve not grown.. and we get discouraged.. or worse, disillusioned.

The past few months as I look back at all the stuff I’ve gone thru in my life.. and in my walk with God.. I can quite safely say that I’ve ‘grown’… but I’d like to think that instead of measuring from a growth point of view… I’ve become more in love with Jesus!
Having witnessed all that He’s done in my own life.. and experienced His love over and over again, unconditionally each time… I know He’s so in love with me. And it’s caused me love Him more…

Coming back to my conversation with my friend… I went to bed that night thinkin’ … I like it that whenever I relate God’s stories in my life others ‘fall more in love with Jesus’… because they catch glimpses of God’s great love for them too… =) That will be my motivation for sharing my heart, reflecting all that God has done.

I pray too, for many of you who read my updates (on this blog) will ‘fall more in love with Jesus’ too whenever you read reports, hear stories of God’s faithfulness and love in our lives!
That would make all this blogging, journalling so worth it!

Going on my 1st MRT!

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Yep… in about a month’s time.. Lil and I will be headed for our 1st MRT ‘ride’… =)
It’s ForeRunner’s Mongolia Resource Trip.

ForeRunner’s heartbeat has always been for the lost. However, recognizing that we cannot reach the world alone, we seek to equip, enhance and empower other like-minded music ministers and ministries to help them reach their target groups more effectively. This strategy, is in many ways, is like ForeRunner’s way of ‘Discipleship’, multiplying our efforts to help fulfill the Great Commission.

We’ve been invited to train and cast vision for the staff and graduating students who are very keen on starting a music ministry. Their National Director has recently given them a green light to officially start a music ministry.

Our goal there is to further inspire them with what we do in ForeRunner… share our experiences, success models, what has worked for us, what has not… conduct some training… share some resources… show them our materials.. do some consultations (answer their questions with regards to starting music ministry, philosophy of music ministry etc.) While we are there.. of course we hope to encourage them, pray for them, share lives with them.

Lil has been ‘itching’ for some action.. plus she’s got fond memories of our trip there in 2001 (when we took Josh then 3, and Emily then 7months). So I’m really glad that she can make this trip. Mom has kindly offered to take care of the 3 kids.. again, so that she can go freely to minister! =) We originally thot of bring Josh along.. but because of a recent asthma attack, and the cold temperatures.. (-15 degrees!!) we were advised by a family doctor not to.

Do pray for us as we prepare.. and as we trust God for the funding that we’ll need for this trip…

Glimpses of heaven… in Port Dickson

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It’s been a good 7 days since arrived in Port Dickson.
Our time here is nothing short of amazing! Thanks for those who journeyed with me in your prayers!

The second night when we sang ‘Blessed Assurance‘, the voices of 550 younger leaders, representing 110 nations sounded like a holy roar that felt like it ‘rocked’ the whole auditorium! It was wonderful! I wondered in my heart how big a smile it must have put on God’s face! =)

I remember coming here with only a simple expectation… and that is ‘God would show up…’
As usual, our God has exceeded that expectation, and done much much more…
He showed us among the conferees, touching, softening and molding hearts. He showed up too in a very personalized way, reaching deep into my heart to revealed many things. (that story another time, tho)

Worship brings us into the holy presence of God, and when we’re there, we cannot but be changed…
Here are snippets of ‘comments’/summaries of what people have been telling us about their experience in worship at the plenary times. We are just thankful, and very humbled that God would use us in such a powerful way.

I was bawling…as I worshipped God – a President of a Bible College in Japan

God brought me back to a time when I wept before him, that was a very significant time, today is a second such experience… – a Pastor from Mauritius

This is the first time I’m actually able to worship God in a real way, through music – a Pastor

I sense God has truly anointed you guys… I was able be free to worshipping God as you lead us. I sense He has much more in store for you all. – a doctor, worship leader, song-writer fr USA

Tomorrow the gathering comes to an end… Please pray that as each of these leaders return to their country, they continue to build on the spiritual foundations that God has deposited in their hearts. And continue to serve fervantly for Him wherever He has placed them.

Hearing the ‘holy roar’ every day…

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It’s been a good 7 days since arrived in Port Dickson.
Our time here is nothing short of amazing! Thanks for those who journeyed with me in your prayers!

Every plenary session when we led in worship, the voices of 550 younger leaders, representing 110 nations continued to sound like a holy roar that felt like it ‘rocked’ the whole auditorium! It was wonderful! I wondered in my heart how much pleasure it must bring God to hear his precious ones come humbly to seek His face

I remember coming here with only a simple expectation… and that is ‘God would show up…’
As usual, our God has exceeded that expectation, and done much much more…
He showed us among the conferees, touching, softening and molding hearts. He showed up too in a very personalized way, reaching deep into my heart to revealed many things. (that story another time, tho)

Worship brings us into the holy presence of God, and when we’re there, we cannot but be changed…
Here are snippets of ‘comments’/summaries of what people have been telling us about their experience in worship at the plenary times. We are just thankful, and very humbled that God would use us in such a powerful way.

I was bawling…as I worshipped God – a President of a Bible College in Japan

God brought me back to a time when I wept before him, that was a very significant time, today is a second such experience... – a Pastor from Mauritius

This is the first time I’m actually able to worship God in a real way, through music – a Pastor

I sense God has truly anointed you guys… I was able be free to worshipping God as you lead us. I sense He has much more in store for you all. – a doctor, worship leader, song-writer fr USA

Tomorrow the gathering comes to an end… Please pray that as each of these leaders return to their country, they continue to build on the spiritual foundations that God has deposited in their hearts. And continue to serve fervantly for Him wherever He has placed them.

Building a new generation of leaders…

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I’m leaving for Port Dickson, Malaysia tomorrow… will be there for 9 days till October 1st.

ForeRunner has been invited to minister in Praise & Worship at the Lausanne Younger Leaders Gathering. About 550 invited young leaders from all over the world will gather to seek God, and his heart for the lost. Strategic partnerships & friendship would be forged that would help in world evangelization.

We’re really excited about the privilege for us to be part of this, to be a blessing to the nations of the world!

I’ll be leading a team of 7. Our top prayer request is that we’ll seek God’s presence, as we lead and usher the congregation in worship of our God.

Do also pray for Lil and kids, esp. for good health (Emily & Zachary are still sick, recovering from food poisoning, diarrhoea, vomitting)

An important family decision…

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Last Monday, Lil and I consolidated our thots on homeschooling and made a decision together that we’d like to homeschool Josh. This process has gone on for the past few months…

For me, this is a one of the most significant decision for my family. It is also one key decision tied in with our parenting philosophy. How we arrived at this decision is a surprise even to us… =)

Few years back, this whole idea of homeschooling was nothing more than a foreign idea. I may of heard of it, but may have thot it’s only for people who don’t fit in to normal school.

But over the course of the past few years, with several different exposures to families who homeschool, and seeing the benefits of doing something like that ourselves, Lil and I found ourselves (individually) slowly opening up to the idea of doing it ourselves.

We’ll share more with you our journey… but for now.. suffice to say that we need your prayers. For God to lead and guide us in this process. For his strength and wisdom

Enjoyed praying…

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Yesterday, our team had an extended time to pray together… We 1st met at Labrador park.. sat at a high point, overlooking the see, it was a beautiful setting! Then we went back to office, had juices (it was a juice fast that day for all!) and continued in pray for our core values, for the lost etc. It was really a good time!

In the morning, Pat shared fr Joel, about the 5 C’s of Revival… Also shared about 2 things that prevent revival from taking place… our ‘unrepentant heart‘, and our need for a ‘sense of respectability‘- the need to look like we’re ok in front of others, even when we’re really not.

We had some time to make some personal reflections.. and I thought about another obstacle to true revival.. and that’s ‘Counterfeits‘, another C. The world seems to offer all kinds of things that may seem to give a semblance of ‘revival’. Yet we know all of these are merely ‘fakes’ and substitute for the real thing. The irony is that our appetites tend to be for such things… We readily yearn for these instant gratifications in life, even though we know they don’t fully satisfy.

Father, help me to learn and grow to identify the fakes, and know quickly that they don’t satisfy…
Most of all, help me find my treasure in You. Cos’ where my treasure is, there my heart will be too! Thanks that this is upon you heart, and you’ll answer this prayer! =)

Too many ‘big’ things at one time… both joyful and difficult

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Ma going thru triple-heart bypass, hospital visits, anxieties about their well-being; celebrating 10 years with Lil, growth in our marriage, God’s faithfulness in our lives; major decision about whether to homeschool,
that’s just what’s going on at home…

At work, complicated HR issues, entering completely new territories in handling people issues, learning the hard lesson of ‘letting go’; new open ‘doors’ in ForeRunner, God’s favour in our faith ventures; leadership transition ‘stresses’, learning to work with different paradigms, thinking; exploring our future, ‘God, where are you leading us next?’ etc.

On top of all these… have been physically unwell for since church camp in June, with several ‘knock-out’ days, loss of voice, lethargic, tired etc. etc. Yet at the same time, healing and strength for each day, each week…

As I type this… God speaks… (thru the screensaver of Angie’s laptop, which right next to me)… it reads,

“As for His failing you, never dream of it – hate the thought. The who has been sufficient until now, should be trusted to the end.” – Charles Spurgeon

Lil’s mom is doing better…

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Since her triple-heart bypass on 31st July, she’s been recovering rather well.
we’re thankful for God’s protection over her life…

She was discharged last Friday.. and have been staying at Lil’s youngest brothers place in Pasir Ris.

Thanks for many who rally around us in prayer and encouragement… it meant a lot to us during this rather stressful time. =)

pls continue to pray for mom and dad to be open to the gospel…
we pray for her whenever we visit her.. and she welcomes it. but we are praying for a significant breakthrough in their understanding of who Christ is to them, and invite Him into their lives!

God’s precision timing

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Dear Simon
Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that you labor in the Lord is not in vain- May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon you and may He establish the work of your hand.
(a small gift for you) Love, Selena

This little note scribbled on a post-it note, and stuck to a check came to me in an envelope last week on Thursday… and it couldn’t have come at a better time!

With several people issues, work challenges, fear of unknown, and many self-doubts in my mind.. I was beginning to wonder if what I’m doing really mattered. I could feel myself emotionally, mentally and spiritually tired… and meanwhile… God knew the exact words I needed to hear from his word.

And so with precision timing, he led my cousin Selena to pen those words (probably unbeknownst to her what I was going thru) and got it delivered just at the right time for me to read it, and hear Him say to me: “I love you, my precious child”